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The Underway

Environments Designed by Maximilian Müller
Tier
1
Type
Traversal
Difficulty
12
Impulses
Fear of height Undetected traversal, alternative Route Slow down travel

Environment overview

A route only known to a few locals using the lower walkways and bamboo scaffolding, decks and piers beneath the busy bridge overhead.

Potential adversaries

Highwaymen Thieves Cultists

Features

Passives

passive
  • Dangerous Crossing

    Crossing the Underway requires the party to complete a Progress Countdown (6). There are multiple obstacles in the way, such as gaps, ropes and narrow planks that require an action roll to cross. Crossing such obstacles usually requires an agility action roll but a different value can be used at the GMs discretion. A successful roll ticks down the countdown by 1.

    A PC who rolls failure with Fear is immediately targeted by the "Loose Plank" or "Vertigo" action, depending on which feels more appropriate for the situation, without requiring a Fear to be spent on the feature.

    Questions
    • Have any of the PCs travelled this path before?
    • Are any of them afraid of the height or the dirty river below?

Actions

action
  • Loose Plank

    Spend a fear to make a plank crack beneath a player's foot. They must make an Agility Reaction Roll. If they fail, they fall but manage to hold on to a rope, scaffolding or a plank. If they aren't saved on the next action, they plummet down into the river far below. If they succeed, they manage to catch themselves and pull themselves up. In either case, they must mark a Stress.

    Questions
    • The Underway is known for it's instability and danger. What else might happen to them?
  • Vertigo

    Spend a fear to make a players fear of height become more intense as the wind causes the bridge or rope to swing. They are able to hold on but the increased mental tensions means they have to mark a Stress.

  • Who comes our way?

    Spend a Fear to summon one or more adversaries from the potential adversaries listed above. The adversaries appear in close range of the PCs and immediately take the spotlight. They might not immediately attack but ask for a price to let the PCs cross.

    Use this action only once per scene.

Reactions

reaction
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About this environment

The environment is inspired by existing environments and adapters to fit into the Castorhage Setting by Richard Pett and Frog God Games to describe the Underway of the Town Bridge in Castorhage.

The Underway

Tier 1 Traversal

A route only known to a few locals using the lower walkways and bamboo scaffolding, decks and piers beneath the busy bridge overhead.

Impulses: Fear of height, Undetected traversal, alternative Route, Slow down travel

Difficulty: 12

Potential Adversaries: Highwaymen, Thieves, Cultists

Features

Dangerous Crossing - Passive: Crossing the Underway requires the party to complete a Progress Countdown (6). There are multiple obstacles in the way, such as gaps, ropes and narrow planks that require an action roll to cross. Crossing such obstacles usually requires an agility action roll but a different value can be used at the GMs discretion. A successful roll ticks down the countdown by 1. A PC who rolls failure with Fear is immediately targeted by the "Loose Plank" or "Vertigo" action, depending on which feels more appropriate for the situation, without requiring a Fear to be spent on the feature.
  • Have any of the PCs travelled this path before?
  • Are any of them afraid of the height or the dirty river below?
Loose Plank - Action: Spend a fear to make a plank crack beneath a player's foot. They must make an Agility Reaction Roll. If they fail, they fall but manage to hold on to a rope, scaffolding or a plank. If they aren't saved on the next action, they plummet down into the river far below. If they succeed, they manage to catch themselves and pull themselves up. In either case, they must mark a Stress.
  • The Underway is known for it's instability and danger. What else might happen to them?
Vertigo - Action: Spend a fear to make a players fear of height become more intense as the wind causes the bridge or rope to swing. They are able to hold on but the increased mental tensions means they have to mark a Stress.
Who comes our way? - Action: Spend a Fear to summon one or more adversaries from the potential adversaries listed above. The adversaries appear in close range of the PCs and immediately take the spotlight. They might not immediately attack but ask for a price to let the PCs cross. Use this action only once per scene.

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